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Why we LOVE this product!
We picked MEL STEM because every kit ends with something that works: a microscope you can look through, a jack lift that raises a load, a car that runs on a spring. That gives young kids a reason to finish the project and a way to see the science happen.
What sets it apart is the pairing of a physical build with short video guides and AR lessons in the app, so the explanation sits right next to the model.
Two things to weigh: it's priced above simpler craft boxes, so the annual plan is where the value is. And the app needs a phone or tablet, so expect some screen time alongside the building.
Description
SKU:
MELKids
MEL Science STEM is a monthly hands-on kit for kids 5 and up. Each box has the parts and instructions to build a working model, such as a microscope, a hydraulic lift or a spring-powered race car, with video guides and augmented reality (AR) lessons in the free MEL Science app.
What's inside
One new kit arrives each month with everything needed to complete it. MEL currently lists 17 STEM kits:
- Microscope
- Hydraulic Lift
- Spring Force
- Codebreaking
- Art Lab
- Printing Press
- Aircraft
- Infinity Portal
- Earthquakes
- Spectrum Goggles
- Electric Boat
- Gyroscope
- Projector Optics
- Projectile Cannon
- Sound Waves
- Science of Light
- Green Flashlight
How it works
You pick one or more subjects at checkout and can switch subjects at any time from your MEL account. A new kit ships every month. You can pause or cancel with one click in My Account and reactivate later.
The app adds step-by-step video guides and AR lessons on a phone or tablet.
What kids learn
The kits introduce beginner physics and engineering: light and color, sound, forces and motion, hydraulics, simple machines and how a microscope magnifies. Building the model is the hands-on part, and the app explains the idea behind it. Five and six year olds get the most out of it with an adult reading along.
Good to know before you buy
- MEL lists subscriptions from $29.90 a month, and its 12-month plan costs the same as 8 months.
- Kits can't be bought one at a time.
- MEL says its projects meet US CPSC requirements for educational sets and have been tested with kids.
- You'll need a phone or tablet for the app lessons.
- Buying it as a gift? Enter the child's address at checkout.
- MEL doesn't publish a holiday shipping cutoff on its subject pages, so order early if the first box needs to arrive by a set date.
How it compares
STEM is MEL's youngest line. From 8, kids can move on to MEL Physics or Math; Chemistry starts at 10 and Medicine at 14. It costs more than many craft-style subscription boxes, but each kit builds a working model rather than a one-off craft.
Who it's for
Curious 5 to 8 year olds who like building things, parents who want a ready-made weekend science project, and homeschoolers who want hands-on science without gathering supplies.
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About
MEL Science
